Italy prepares for its annual fair in Milan and publishes 2025 edition of the Italian Rare Book Review

In the 15th and 16th centuries, Milanese printers became known for producing humanist and scholarly texts, particularly classical works and legal, theological, and scientific writings, despite Venice still being the driving force in printing text. Among the most famous early printers was Antonio Zarotto, who set up a press in 1471 and printed some of the earliest editions of classical authors such as Virgil and Cicero. Zarotto’s work helped establish Milan’s reputation for elegant typography and scholarly publishing.

In later centuries, Milan developed into a centre for intellectual and cultural life in Italy. In the 19th century, publishers like Casa Editrice Hoepli and Casa Editrice Sonzogno became well known for their technical manuals, scientific works, and affordable editions of literature. Milan also played a key role in the Italian national unification movement, with many political pamphlets and newspapers printed there.
In the 20th century, Milan established its position as Italy’s publishing capital. It became home to major publishers like Mondadori, Rizzoli Editore, Feltrinelli Editore, and Giunti Editore. Many of Italy’s most influential newspapers and literary magazines were (and still are) published in the city. Today, Milan remains a major centre of publishing and intellectual life, hosting book fairs and literary festivals.

The annual Mostra Mercato del Libro Antico e Raro, the Italian Rare Book Fair, organised by the Associazione Librai Antiquari d'Italia (ALAI) in collaboration with the Fondo per l'Ambiente Italiano (FAI) will take place from 24 to 26 October 2025 in the elegant setting of Villa Necchi Campiglio and welcome booksellers, collectors, and bibliophiles from across Italy and the world.

Around 40 exhibitors will present an extraordinary selection of rare and valuable works, ranging from manuscripts and incunabula to first editions of literary masterpieces, artist books, finely bound volumes, and signed works from the twentieth century. Visitors will have the unique opportunity to admire and acquire treasures that represent centuries of printing and bookmaking history.

The fair is curated by ALAI, member of ILAB: https://alai.it/
The association has also arranged for a number of workshops that will be held during the fair, all information in Italian can be found here: https://fondoambiente.it/il-fai/beni/mostra-del-libro-antico/programma/

In addition to the book fair, visitors can explore the stunning interiors and art collections of Villa Necchi Campiglio, a masterpiece of 1930s architecture designed by Piero Portaluppi, right in the heart of Milan.

Gabriele Maspero, president of ALAI writes to ILAB: “With this Milanese event we are successfully reviving tradition while engaging a new generation of collectors who bring new tastes and cultural tools to the rare book trade - yet still value the need to meet in person and talk about books. New collectors today mean new librarians in the future. ALAI’s goal is dual: support sales and prove to institutions the trade’s vital role in enriching the national bibliographic heritage.”

For more information, visit the website here: https://fondoambiente.it/il-fai/beni/mostra-del-libro-antico

Further reading on Milan’s printing and publishing history:

https://www.storiemilanesi.org/en/insight/editoria-milano

https://www.citiesoflit.com/milan

Or contact the Italian Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association, ALAI, for their regularly published “Review”, “Rivista annuale di Cultura del Libro realizzata da A.L.A.I.”, a unique magazine on the history of the book. The next edition will be published on the occasion of the 2025 fair and can be purchased at the book fair or directly from ALAI:
https://www.alai.it/rivista.php?lang_id=1

Benvenuti a Milano, la città del libro!

Images: ALAI and Angelika Elstner
Text: Angelika Elstner